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Privacy Policy

This policy describes the technical and voluntary information collected when someone visits Effingham County Criminal History. It also explains why that data is used, which service providers may receive it, and what choices a visitor may have. Continued use of the website indicates acceptance of these practices.

Data You Give Us Directly

Search Queries

When you type a name or location into one of the search tools on our site, that input goes straight to the third-party provider that runs the search. They process it and return results. We do not store or log the search terms you enter on our end.

Messages and Contact Submissions

If you send us an email, we keep that message so we can reply. Your message stays within our team. We will not share it with anyone outside our organization unless a legal obligation requires it.

Data We Gather Automatically

Every time a page on this site loads, our servers pick up some technical details about the visit:

  • The IP address assigned to your device
  • Which browser you are using and its version
  • Your device type and operating system
  • The pages you visited and how long you stayed on each
  • The site that sent you here, if any
  • Timestamps for each page view

Cookies and Analytics

We use cookies on this site. These are small files stored on your device that let us see how visitors use the site - which pages get the most traffic and where people tend to drop off. Analytics services help us aggregate that traffic data. Your browser settings let you block cookies whenever you want. Some parts of the site may behave differently if you do.

What We Do With This Data

  • Keeping the site up, running, and loading quickly
  • Sending your search requests to the right partner service
  • Figuring out which pages people find useful and which need work
  • Tracking down and fixing technical issues
  • Showing ads that may line up with your interests

No Criminal-Record Data on File

We do not keep, assemble, or sell a database of personal criminal records. The site explains how to reach the Effingham County sheriff, the county courts, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's GCIC repository, and the Georgia Sex Offender Registry. Visitor information is not used to create records about other people or consumer reports. This site is not a consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Third-Party Search Partners

Search boxes on this site are powered by outside companies. Anything you enter into those tools is processed under the partner's own privacy policy, not this one. Those partners set their own data-retention and sharing practices, and we do not control them. Review the partner's policy before submitting a search.

Links to Other Websites

Throughout the site we link to sheriff's office pages, court portals, state agency sites, legal aid groups, and third-party search tools. Clicking any of those links takes you off our site. At that point, their privacy policy governs your visit. Read it before sharing any personal details.

Certain advertising partners may track your activity across sites to show targeted ads. That tracking runs on their systems, not ours.

Who Might See Your Data

We do not sell personal data. Some information may end up with:

  • Search partners that handle queries you run on our site
  • Analytics services we use to track traffic and performance
  • Ad networks that place ads on our pages
  • Law enforcement or government bodies when a valid legal order requires it

How We Protect Your Data

We follow standard security practices to safeguard the data we collect. But nothing connected to the internet is bulletproof. We do what we can to keep your information secure, though we cannot promise a breach will never happen.

Users Under 18

This site is meant for adults. We do not knowingly gather personal information from anyone under 18. If you think a minor has shared data with us, reach out and we'll delete it right away.

Your Data Rights

Rights may vary by residence. Georgia's Fair Business Practices Act, O.C.G.A. §§ 10-1-390 through 10-1-407, governs unfair or deceptive consumer practices, while the Georgia Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 through 50-18-77, governs access to records held by public agencies rather than this private site. Subject to applicable law, you may:

  • Ask for a copy of what we have on file about you
  • Have us fix information that is wrong
  • Request that we erase your data
  • Opt out of certain kinds of data processing

Updates to This Policy

This policy may be revised as site practices or legal requirements change. A revised version will appear here with its new effective date, so visitors should review it from time to time.

Effective date: July 18, 2026